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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

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Method of Studying Palatal Fusion using Static Organ Culture
Published on: September 19, 2015
The role of twist during palate development
Wenli Yu1, Harold Kamara, Kathy K H Svoboda
1Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
Summary
Twist protein is crucial for palate fusion, potentially mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Its activity is regulated by TGF-beta3 and PI-3K signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Medial Edge Epithelium (MEE) cells disappear during palatogenesis.
- Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is hypothesized to drive mesenchyme confluence.
- Twist is a known regulator of EMT in tumor metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Twist in palatal fusion.
- To understand the molecular mechanisms regulating Twist during this process.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Twist protein and mRNA expression in palatal shelves.
- In vitro culture of palatal shelves with TGFbeta3 stimulation.
- Treatment with Twist siRNA, TGFbeta3 neutralizing antibody, and LY294002 (PI-3K inhibitor).
- Assessment of beta-catenin localization.
Main Results:
- Twist protein and mRNA are expressed in MEE prior to palatal fusion.
- TGFbeta3 treatment increased Twist mRNA levels.
- Twist siRNA reduced palatal fusion and altered beta-catenin localization.
- Twist mRNA levels decreased with TGFbeta3 neutralizing antibody or PI-3K inhibition.
- Twist is downstream of TGFbeta3 and PI-3K signaling in palatogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Twist plays a significant role in palatogenesis, likely via EMT.
- Twist acts downstream of TGFbeta3 and PI-3K pathways.
- Other transcription factors may compensate for Twist function, as complete fusion was not blocked by siRNA.
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